Dolson named all-star in new American Athletic Conference

Tuesday

Oct 15, 2013 at 2:00 AM

For Stefanie Dolson, it's a new basketball conference and the same old honors.

Ken McMillan

For Stefanie Dolson, it's a new basketball conference and the same old honors.

The Minisink Valley graduate and UConn senior was named a unanimous selection to the inaugural American Athletic Conference preseason all-star team. The league held its media day on Monday in Uncasville, Conn., and defending national champion UConn was chosen the preseason favorite in a poll of the league's 10 coaches.

Dolson was a preseason Big East Conference all-star in fall 2012. She went on to earn All-America honors from the Women's Basketball Coaches Association, the United States Basketball Writers and The Associated Press. Dolson averaged 13.6 points and 7.1 rebounds for the Huskies (35-4), who knocked off Louisville and Notre Dame at the Women's Final Four.

Heading into her senior season, Dolson is recognized as the top center in the women's game and a sure-bet draft pick for the Women's National Basketball Association. She has 1,299 career points and ranks fourth on UConn's career field-goal percentage list at 59.8 percent.

UConn sophomore Breanna Stewart was named the preseason player of the year, and joins teammates Dolson and Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis on the all-star team. Bria Hartley was an honorable mention choice.

Connecticut opens full team practices on Tuesday.

The AAC — now being referred to as The American — is a league comprised of former Big East members UConn, Louisville, Rutgers, Cincinnati and South Florida; former Conference USA members Houston, Memphis, Central Florida and Southern Methodist; and, Atlantic 10 departee Temple. After one season, Rutgers heads for the Big Ten, Louisville moves to the Atlantic Coast Conference and The American welcomes East Carolina, Tulane and Tulsa.

The preseason poll has Connecticut on top, followed by Louisville, South Florida, Rutgers, SMU, Memphis, Cincinnati, Central Florida, Temple and Houston.

Last week, Dolson, Mosqueda-Lewis, Stewart and Hartley were named to the watch list for the Wade Trophy, regarded as the Heisman Trophy of women's basketball. Criteria for the nominees include game and season statistics, leadership, character, effect on their teams and overall playing ability.

Dolson was one of 28 players who participated in a Team USA training camp from Oct. 4-6 in Las Vegas. Team USA will compete in the 2014 World Championships in Turkey.

"Had an amazing time at trials,'' Dolson wrote on her Twitter account. "So lucky to learn so much from these older players but now it's back to work with my team!"